What is desmopressin?

Desmopressin Acetate Tablets are a synthetic analogue of the natural pituitary hormone 8-arginine vasopressin (ADH), an antidiuretic hormone affecting renal water conservation. It is chemically defined as follows: Desmopressin acetate tablets, for oral administration, contain either 0.1 or 0.2 mg desmopressin acetate, USP. Inactive ingredients include: lactose monohydrate, potato starch, talc, magnesium stearate and povidone. structure

What kind of drug is desmopressin?

The FDA classifies desmopressin as a factor viii activator. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.

Can you take desmopressin with other medicines?

It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run desmopressin against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.

What brand names is desmopressin sold under?

We track 5 desmopressin-containing products in the U.S.: Ddavp, Ddavp (Needs No Refrigeration), Nocdurna, Stimate and Stimate (Needs No Refrigeration). They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.

What forms does desmopressin come in?

Across the brands we track, desmopressin is currently marketed as injectable, tablet and spray/inhaler, metered, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.

Is there a generic desmopressin?

We do not currently list a generic-labelled desmopressin product. That does not always mean none exists — it means none appears under a generic name in the FDA data we track. Ask your pharmacist.

Has desmopressin been recalled?

The FDA's Enforcement database lists 1 recall record whose product description mentions desmopressin. The most recent: Desmopressin Nasal Spray (Apr 8, 2026). A recall applies to specific lots, not to the drug as a whole — check the record for the affected lot numbers.

Desmopressin: uses, dosing, side effects & brands

Desmopressin is a factor viii activator sold in the U.S. under 5 brand and generic names, for enuresis, hemorrhage and thrombocytopenia. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.

By the pharmaranks editorial teamReviewed against the FDA (openFDA label, NDC Directory & Enforcement) sourcesHow we research

Key facts

Drug class: Factor Viii Activator
Treats: Enuresis, Hemorrhage and Thrombocytopenia
Available as: Injectable · Tablet · Spray/Inhaler, metered
Sold as: 5 products — Ddavp, Ddavp (Needs No Refrigeration) and Nocdurna, and others
Prescription?: Prescription only
Generic available?: Not in our catalog
Typical price: about $0 for a 30-count supply

How desmopressin is dosed

From the FDA label for Nocdurna (application NDA022517). Other desmopressin products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.

Central Diabetes Insipidus: The dosage of desmopressin acetate tablets must be determined for each individual patient and adjusted according to the diurnal pattern of response. Response should be estimated by two parameters: adequate duration of sleep and adequate, not excessive, water turnover. Patients previously on intranasal desmopressin acetate therapy should begin tablet therapy twelve hours after the last intranasal dose. During the initial dose titration period, patients should be observed closely and appropriate safety parameters measured to assure adequate response. Patients should be monitored at regular intervals during the course of desmopressin acetate tablets therapy to assure adequate antidiuretic response. Modifications in dosage regimen should be implemented as necessary to assure adequate water turnover. Fluid restriction should be observed. (See WARNINGS , PRECAUTIONS , Pediatric Use and Geriatric Use.) Adults and Children: It is recommended that patients be started on doses of 0.05 mg (1/2 of the 0.1 mg tablet) two times a day and individually adjusted to their optimum therapeutic dose. Most patients in clinical trials found that the optimal dosage range is 0.1 mg to 0.8 mg daily, administered in divided doses. Each dose should be separately adjusted for an adequate diurnal rhythm of water turnover. Total daily dosage should be increased or decreased in…

Desmopressin side effects

Infrequently, large doses of the intranasal formulations of desmopressin acetate and desmopressin acetate injection have produced transient headache, nausea, flushing and mild abdominal cramps. These symptoms have disappeared with reduction in dosage. Central Diabetes Insipidus: In long-term clinical studies in which patients with diabetes insipidus were followed for periods up to 44 months of desmopressin acetate tablet therapy, transient increases in AST (SGOT) no higher than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal were occasionally observed. Elevated AST (SGOT) returned to the normal range despite continued use of desmopressin acetate tablets. Primary Nocturnal Enuresis: The only adverse event occurring in ≥ 3% of patients in controlled clinical trials with desmopressin acetate tablets that was probably, possibly, or remotely related to study drug was headache (4% desmopressin acetate, 3% placebo). Other: The following adverse events have been reported; however, their relationship to desmopressin acetate has not been established: abnormal thinking, diarrhea, and edema-weight gain. See WARNINGS for the possibility of water intoxication and hyponatremia. Post Marketing: There have been rare reports of hyponatremic convulsions associated with concomitant use with the following medications: oxybutinin and imipramine.

Every desmopressin product we track (5)

Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.

Desmopressin products
#	Drug	Rating	Type	Form	Generic?	Typical price
1	Ddavp	70/100	Prescription	Injectable	Generic	$0	View →
2	Ddavp (Needs No Refrigeration)	70/100	Prescription	Spray/Inhaler	Generic

What desmopressin pills look like

Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.

Desmopressin pill imprints
Imprint	Strength	Colour	Shape	Maker
S;71	0.1 mg	white	oval	—
A;19	0.2 mg	white	round	—

Desmopressin recalls

From the FDA Enforcement database. A recall covers specific lots — not the drug as a whole.

Desmopressin Nasal Spray
Defective container: defect in a batch of bottle caps, specifically involving dislodged or missing cap liners.
Apotex Corp. · Apr 8, 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is desmopressin?: Desmopressin Acetate Tablets are a synthetic analogue of the natural pituitary hormone 8-arginine vasopressin (ADH), an antidiuretic hormone affecting renal water conservation. It is chemically defined as follows: Desmopressin acetate tablets, for oral administration, contain either 0.1 or 0.2 mg desmopressin acetate, USP. Inactive ingredients include: lactose monohydrate, potato starch, talc, magnesium stearate and povidone. structure
What kind of drug is desmopressin?: The FDA classifies desmopressin as a factor viii activator. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take desmopressin with other medicines?: It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run desmopressin against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is desmopressin sold under?: We track 5 desmopressin-containing products in the U.S.: Ddavp, Ddavp (Needs No Refrigeration), Nocdurna, Stimate and Stimate (Needs No Refrigeration). They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does desmopressin come in?: Across the brands we track, desmopressin is currently marketed as injectable, tablet and spray/inhaler, metered, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic desmopressin?: We do not currently list a generic-labelled desmopressin product. That does not always mean none exists — it means none appears under a generic name in the FDA data we track. Ask your pharmacist.

Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.